Jobs/Appointments
AXA Mansard Appoints Adebola Surakat as Chief Marketing Officer
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Ms Adebola Sukurat has been appointed as the new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of AXA Mansard Plc, a leading insurance company.
She is expected to use her technical expertise in key operational areas of the underwriting profession to move the insurer to a greater height and drive its ambition to simplify insurance and increase adoption in Nigeria.
In her new role as CMO, Ms Adebola will be responsible for the strategic direction of AXA Mansard’s marketing, communication, and sustainability programmes in line with the organisation’s strategic drivers and positioning to give customers the confidence to progress.
“I aim to leverage my years of experience and deep understanding of the market dynamics to define and implement marketing strategies that drive sustainable growth for AXA Mansard.
“I am excited to work with our team of dynamic professionals to enhance our customer experience and improve our processes and digital footprint to consolidate our leadership and strong market position.
“This vision for the future is inspiring and aligns with our commitment to continuous improvement and customer-centricity. This vision for the future is inspiring and aligns with our commitment to continuous improvement and customer-centricity,” the appointee commented.
Ms Adebola holds an MBA from the University of Roehampton, London, and a B.Sc. in Accounting from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.
She has also completed various professional certifications, including a CII Level 3 Certificate in Insurance by CII UK, a Certificate in Risk Management from THEIRM UK, and the Senior Management Program from Lagos Business School.
Her commitment to continuous professional development is evident through her participation in programs such as the EACB Executive Mentorship Program and various workshops on Environmental & Social Management Systems and Risk Analysis in Lending and Investment Practices and more recently Leadership and Management Development Program by Iperformance Kenya Africa.
This commitment ensures that she is always at the forefront of industry best practices and ready to adapt to the evolving needs of our business and customers.
With a remarkable career at AXA Mansard spanning over 19 years, Ms Adebola has consistently demonstrated her expertise and leadership across various roles.
Most recently, she served as the Chief Fulfilment Officer, responsible for claims administration and the development of microinsurance technical processes.
Her previous role includes Head of Claims Services, Reinsurance, Technical Risk Survey, and Fraud & Insurance Procurement.
Throughout her career at AXA Mansard, she has held pivotal roles that have shaped her comprehensive understanding of the insurance landscape.
Ms Adebola began her journey in Retail Sales, managing Bancassurance and Agency Distribution channels, where she honed her skills in client relationship management and business development.
Her transition to Head of Credit Control saw her implement strategies to monitor and manage company receivables effectively.
Subsequently, she led the Enterprise Risk Management Group and held a dual role as the Environmental and Social Manager where her immense contribution and activities in AXA Mansard and the industry resulted in an industry recognition where she won the Risk Manager of the Year Award of the maiden edition of the Nigerian Risk Awards (2013) and AXA Mansard won Insurance Company of the year, an award organized by the renowned Conrad Clark, Institute of Risk Management UK and Business Day.
Ms Adebola’s experience was enriched by an international assignment with AXA International & New Markets in Madrid, Spain, where she governed best practices in claims management, including fraud detection and insurance procurement. Her role as Business Development Manager in the Downstream Energy Sector demonstrated her capability to develop new business lines, manage client relationships, and generate significant Gross Written Premium (GWP).
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
In line with the 12-year tenure prescribed for non-executive directors of banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Tony Elumelu will on August 21, 2026, cease to be chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.
The board of the financial institution at its meeting on July 6, 2026, has elected Mr Emmanuel Nnorom as the new chairman.
In a notice to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, the lender said Mr Elumelu’s successor, a non-executive director of the company, will assume the new role on August 21, 2026.
Mr Nnorom is a chartered accountant with over 40 years of experience in banking, finance and audit. He brings to the role extensive leadership experience and deep institutional knowledge of UBA.
“I am honoured by the trust the Board has placed in me and deeply conscious of the legacy I inherit.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues on the board, management and our staff across all our markets to sustain UBA’s momentum and continue delivering long-term value to our shareholders, customers and stakeholders,” Mr Nnorom stated.
Commenting on his retirement, Mr Elumelu said, “Serving United Bank for Africa has been one of the great privileges of my career.
“UBA has a unique competitive position, across Africa and globally, and I leave the Board with great confidence in UBA’s future.
“Emmanuel Nnorom is a leader of integrity, experience and sound judgement, and I am confident that the Bank will continue to thrive under his leadership.”
The board thanked him for his visionary leadership and exceptional contribution to the growth, transformation and institutional strength of the UBA Group.
By Adedapo Adesanya
WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria has announced the appointment of Mr Courage Obadagbonyi as Managing Director, effective July 1, 2026, succeeding Mr Jeethu Jose and becoming the first Nigerian to hold the post.
The appointment reflects the organisation’s continued focus on developing strong leadership from within its global talent pool while ensuring sustained growth and operational excellence.
A seasoned executive with more than two decades of international experience, Mr Obadagbonyi has held leadership roles across finance, operations and general management at leading global organisations, including APM Terminals, General Electric and Lafarge.
Prior to this appointment, he served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the APM Terminals Nigeria cluster, with responsibility for financial strategy across Nigeria and San Pedro, Côte d’Ivoire.
He also served in an acting capacity as Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa between 2025 and March 2026, further strengthening his operational leadership experience.
With experience spanning sectors such as oil and gas, power generation, logistics and healthcare, Mr Obadagbonyi brings deep expertise in financial management, risk optimisation and business performance.
Speaking on his appointment, he said, “I look forward to building on the strong foundation already in place at WACT. The terminal plays a critical role in connecting businesses in Eastern Nigeria to global markets, and we will continue to focus on safe, reliable and efficient operations.”
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Mr Frederik Klinke, noted that the appointment reflects the company’s commitment to leadership development and long-term growth.
“Across APM Terminals globally, we see strong collaboration and talent development across our teams. This appointment reflects the depth of experience within our organisation and our continued focus on building capabilities that support sustainable growth. Nigerians have continued to distinguish themselves through exceptional performance and leadership. Colleagues from our Apapa and Onne terminals have contributed their expertise internationally while also bringing back valuable best practices to strengthen operations in Nigeria.”
He added that Mr Obadagbonyi’s experience would support the next phase of operational excellence and value delivery at WACT.
The outgoing MD, Mr Jose, said, “It has been a privilege to lead WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria during a period of meaningful progress. The team has built a strong platform for the future, and I am confident in the continued success of the organisation.”
West Africa Container Terminal (WACT)-APM Terminals in Onne, Rivers State, is one of Nigeria’s leading container terminals, having commenced commercial operations in 2006.
The company has continued to invest in capacity expansion and modernisation, including a $115 million terminal upgrade project launched in 2020. The upgrade also includes the deployment of reefer racks with a 600-plug capacity, as well as the expansion of the existing yard, a new workshop, a new terminal auto gate, modernised offices and state-of-the-art technology. These investments have enhanced efficiency, strengthened service delivery and reinforced WACT’s role as an important gateway for trade beyond Lagos.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A new member has joined the board of Unilever Nigeria Plc, and she is Mrs Modupe Femi-Okunbanjo, who was appointed as an executive director of the organisation.
Her appointment, according to a statement from the company, is effective June 30, 2026. It followed the resignation of Mr Ibrahim Sodipe as an executive director of the firm with effect from June 30, 2026.
Mr Sodipe was praised for his valuable service and significant contributions to the entity, particularly in driving improved turnover and profitability and supporting Unilever Nigeria’s continued progress towards sustainable and profitable growth.
Mrs Femi-Okunbanjo was described as an accomplished finance and governance leader who, for more than 15 years, has steered finance teams, shaped strategy, and strengthened risk management frameworks in the fast-moving consumer goods and telecommunications sectors.
She is currently the Financial Controller of Nigeria and Regional Controls Lead for West Africa at Unilever Nigeria, where she oversees financial governance, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management.
Her work has been pivotal in embedding ethical leadership and data-driven decision-making at board level, while ensuring organisations remain resilient in the face of shifting market dynamics.
The new board member has established a reputation for elevating financial reporting, advancing audit excellence, and strengthening governance frameworks, thereby positioning organisations for sustainable growth and long-term value creation.
In her previous roles, she has a consistent track record of delivering margin expansion, enhancing governance & control environments, and leading transformation in challenging macroeconomic conditions.
She is equally committed to developing future talent and advancing financial literacy among younger generations.
Prior to her joining Unilever Nigeria Plc in 2018, Mrs Femi-Okunbanjo held key roles at UAC of Nigeria Plc, Helios Towers Nigeria, and Makasa Sun Nigeria Limited, where she pioneered control frameworks from the ground up, eliminating revenue leakages, digitising operations and embedding financial discipline.
A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Lagos State University and an MBA with Specialisation in Strategy from the Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, UK.
